EVER WONDER? How safe is an electric blanket?

Published
12:00 am EST, Sunday, December 14, 2003

Theres been concern as to whether its safe to be exposed to the small magnetic field generated by electric blankets. The truth is, electrical and magnetic fields are all around us. Earth creates electro-magnetic fields (EMFs) through lightning storms and electric currents flowing deep within its magnetic core. Electrical power lines, batteries, household appliances and the wiring within our homes are all known to generate EMFs.

Theres been concern raised in recent years that prolonged exposure to EMFs might cause cancer. OSHA and the NIH have been studying the potential health risk of EMF, and to date, no definitive conclusions have been made. As a result of the concern, most manufacturers have redesigned their blankets so as to generate extremely low electro-magnetic fields.

There is a risk of starting a fire by damaging the wires. If the blanket is marked "UL listed"(look for the tag or label), it has been subjected to the insurance industry safety standards and should be quite safe and effective for years when used and not misused.